A Maine crane operator was awarded almost $5 million in damages by a judge as a result of injuries suffered in an electrical accident in a boatyard. Bryan Smith was operating a crane and moving a sailboat when the mast of the boat contacted a power line that had high voltage running through it. The judge in the case found that Central Maine Power caused the accident as the power line was situated about 15 feet closer to the ground level than appropriate. Due to the serious electrical current that went through his body, the judge awarded Smith $3 million in damages for loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, more than $1 million in lost earnings, and $783,000 for past and future medical and rehabilitation expenses.
Our Virginia/Carolina injury law firm recently resolved by settlement a serious electrical injury case involving a commercial pilot who suffered serious electrical injury after being electrically shocked in a hotel shower-due to an electrical short received from an open light bulb socket above the shower. Electrical shock injuries can cause permanent injuries, and worse of course, electrocution (death from electrical shock). Injuries from a serious electrical shock (electricians, construction activity workers and those working around electrical wiring are most susceptible to shock injuries, but even those not involved with such work can be victims of these electrical shock injury claims) can cause all sorts of permanent neurological/nerve injuries and a wide array of medical symptoms. In our last electrical shock injury case, numerous medical experts experienced with shock injuries were retained to best present our client’s proof of permanent injuries. Our law firm has been involved in personal injury cases throughout the eastern United States, and has retained both nationally and internationally recognized experts in the field, as may be necessary to prove our client’s damages.

Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
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